According to a National Aeronautics and Space
Administration press release, in the early 1970s NASA equipped a Pioneer
deep-space probe with this pictorial plaque “on the off chance that somewhere
on the way it is intercepted by intelligent scientifically educated beings.”

NASA explains that the connected circles at the top of the image represent the
nucleus of the hydrogen atom, and the pattern of radiating lines stands for the
14 pulsars of the Milky Way, the whole being designed to locate the sun. It adds
that the man has his right hand raised in greeting.

What would an alien, or rather, an “intelligent scientifically educated”
being, need to know to interpret this picture? Where could you go wrong trying
to sort out its meaning?

The plaque, 9" x 6", was made of gold-anodized aluminum and was attached to the antenna support struts, shielding it from space dust and debris